The Giving Tree also collected money to spread amongst local charities, including St Vincent de Paul, the Salvation Army and City Mission.

Listeners would send in cheques and cash, often personally addressed to Mr Paterson.

"What would really put a lump in my throat is that you'd get a letter and you'd open it and inside would be a very inexpensive Christmas card and there would be $5 with spindly old writing from someone quite advanced in years," he said.

"That pensioner sending in $5 was just like some of the big corporates sending in thousands of dollars.